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The first piece I ever remember refinishing was a picnic table with my grandpa.  I always enjoyed helping him on projects around the house, and I remember this particular summer project was refinishing my parent’s picnic table.  We sanded and sealed, and I do recall it was a lot of work.  

With this latest project, I’ve come full circle.  This picnic table was built by my client’s dad, he wanted to bring it home and use it in his own backyard.  BUT before it was allowed to come home, his wife insisted it be refinished and made to look a little more modern and up to date.  

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So I sanded, and sanded, and sanded.  And wrote a blog post about belt sanders.  And then I sealed and sealed and sealed.  And finally it was finished.  Refinishing picnic tables are a lot of work 😉  that much is still true.  What is also still true, is that there is some beautiful wood hiding underneath that old finish that will look gorgeous with just some TLC.  

Boat varnish had been used to seal this table, and while it didn’t come off easily, it had protected the beautiful cedar underneath.  Once I got through all those layers of varnish, I could see how worth it refinishing can be! I sealed this piece with three coats of General Finishes Exterior 450 in satin finish.  It did an amazing job soaking in, reviving the wood while sealing it and preparing it for living outside.  

The legs got a fresh coat of black spray paint, and the cedar against the black legs really makes the table pop! 

Since we decided to seal this piece without staining it, there is a chance it will weather turn gray (silvering) over time.  My clients actually initially wanted a gray finish, so they were okay with the natural weathering that will happen.  BUT if you do an outdoor project and really want to maintain the color, consider starting off with a layer of exterior stain before sealing.  

I’m so happy with how this table turned out, makes me want to go look for an old camp style picnic table to refinish for my own back porch.  

Are you working on any outdoor projects this summer??

Until next time, 

Jenni